'Avengers: Infinity War' has one end-credits scene — here’s what it means for future Marvel movies

It's not clear what the future has in store for our heroes after "Infinity War." Marvel

Warning: There are major spoilers ahead for "Avengers: Infinity War."

When you head out to theaters to see " Avengers: Infinity War," make sure you stay until the very end of the movie.

There's one extra scene at the film's end you won't want to miss which teases a few extra faces that weren't in the rest of the movie along with a tease of a new one who will join the Marvel Cinematic Universe soon enough.

In case you headed out of the theater early or were left scratching your head, we have you covered.

What happens

Long time, no see! Disney/Marvel screencap

Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) are driving through the streets of Washington, D.C. Their backs are to the audience, but their identities are unmistakable the moment Fury addresses Hill.

"Still no word from Stark?" he asks.

Hill alerts Fury of the massive fight that occurred in Wakanda, but before he can react the duo are nearly hit by a car that crashes in front of them.

When they get out of their SUV to check on the driver, they're alarmed to find the vehicle empty.

"There's no one here," Hill says.

A helicopter crashes behind them and Fury alerts to call control saying they have a "code red."

As soon as she tries, Hill starts to disappear into thin air. Fury scrambles to get a beeper out from the back of their vehicle to send an S.O.S. He starts to disappear himself and says, "Oh no, mother..." He gets cut off before he can finish his sentence, but you can probably guess the final expletive.

Fury drops the device and the camera zooms in on the beeper sending a distress message. A symbol shows up on the device. It's a hala star.

What it means

Let's break this down into several sections because there's a lot to process.

What that star symbol is all about: It's teasing our next female Marvel heroine.

The first official photo Disney and Marvel released for "Captain Marvel." Marvel

Marvel fans will recognize that eight-pointed star is the symbol on Captain Marvel's superhero suit. She'll be getting her own movie March 8, 2019.

Who is Captain Marvel?

Are you ready for Captain Marvel? Marvel

Captain Marvel's real name is Carol Danvers. In the movie, she'll be an Air Force pilot played by Oscar winner Brie Larson ("Room"). An accident will give her powers including flight and super strength.

When Maria Hill says they still haven't heard from Stark, it's a little worrisome, but not a total surprise.

Earlier in the movie, Stark's face is seen on a TV screen saying he was missing after he headed off to space to save Doctor Strange. Now, he's the sole stranded survivor of Peter Quill, Spider-Man, Strange, Drax, and Pom on Thanos' home planet, Titan.

It's not clear how he'll possibly be able to get off the planet without the help of Strange. He may need to put his brain to use to build something to get back home — or at least to radio to someone nearby in space. Maybe he'll be able to salvage what's left, if anything, of Peter Quill's ship.

Are we watching HBO's "The Leftovers"? Did the rapture just come to the Marvel Cinematic Universe?

Not quite.

Just as the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy started to see their friends vanish into thin air at the movie's end, the end-credits scene proves this is not an isolated incident. Thanos said he wanted to wipe out half of the universe's population and this scene showed he wasn't kidding. He wasn't just targeting the Earth's mightiest heroes, he had the entire world in mind.

Hopefully, Captain Marvel isn't among the characters that have vanished.

How it happens in the comics

The cover of 1991's "Infinity Gauntlet." Marvel

Half the world's population also disappears after Thanos snaps his fingers in 1991's six-part " The Infinity Gauntlet." But it's some different heroes who go missing including Daredevil, Mr. Fantastic, Wasp, and Quicksilver. Spider-Man is the first to witness people disappear in New York City's Times Square.

Half of the world's population goes missing in "Infinity Gauntlet." Marvel

In order to defeat Thanos and bring back their loved ones, the remaining survivors have to band together. This includes Doctor Strange and Adam Warlock. If that last name sounds familiar, it's because he was teased in an end-credits scene of "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2."

In the comics, it's Nebula who is able undo everything Thanos has done and Warlock who makes sure it stays that way. That doesn't mean that will be the case in the next "Avengers" movie next summer, but it does mean that we could see some of our fallen heroes, including Nick Fury and Maria Hill again.